We have been through this area before, but each time we find something
unique. Red Rock Canyon was one of these. Located about 18 miles North of
Mojave on highway 14, it boasts formations more often seen in Utah. As we
cruised the back roads we stumbled upon Randsburg, an old abandoned mining
town turned into a delightfully camp little art colony complete with
miniature theater.

Joshua was
geologically stunning as usual. One new gem was the Barkers Dam trail, a
nice three mile hike through some of the parks great formation to a desert
like oasis.

The Salton sea was new to us. An unusual
arid barren habitat hosting strange occupants - human and animal.

Anza Borrego has a new visitors center (at
least to us) and the Palm Canyon Trail shouldn't be overlooked.

At first we thought the hydro seeding
alongside the road outside of Julian was just to repair a slide. Several
miles later it finally dawned on us that this was the remains of the
great fire who's charred remains stretched almost to Escondido.

The Leo Carrillo Ranch in Carlsbad is
another little gem. The mindless 'Pancho' in 'The Cisco Kid' movies was
actually a humanitarian scholar who put this ranch together in the
late 30's. Well worth a visit if in the area.